EPA Administrator visits mid-Missouri power plant

The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency checked out a power plant in mid-Missouri on Thursday.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt toured the Thomas Hill Energy Center in Clifton Hills, Missouri. That’s west of Moberly and about an hour north of Columbia.

Sen. Roy Blunt and Rep. Vicky Hartzler visited the facility with Pruitt.

Blunt promoted President Donald Trump’s action taken on Waters of the United States Rule and the Clean Power Plan.

“President Trump and Administrator Pruitt have wasted no time in dismantling two of the most excessive and harmful Obama administration regulations, the Waters of the United States Rule and the Clean Power Plan,” said Blunt.

“The Trump administrations is keeping its promise to the American people to rein in red tape and promote a true all-of-the-above energy policy, and I will continue supporting the effort.”

Pruitt discussed the EPA’s Back-to-Basics agenda while speaking with around 30 power plant workers, Missouri Electric Cooperative members and agriculture leaders about balancing environmental protection with affordable energy jobs.

“Rather than regulating an entire industry out of business, I’m committed to working in coordination with states to create a healthy environment where jobs and businesses can grow. That’s the purpose of my Back-to-Basics agenda,” said Pruitt.

Pruitt also spoke with workers and co-op members about the president’s recent energy independence executive order and his executive order directing EPA to review the 2015 Waters of the United States rule.

Hartlzer commended Pruitt for focusing on job creation. She represents Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District where Thomas Energy Center is located.

Hartzler said, “It was refreshing to hear the head of the EPA talk about prioritizing both the environment and job growth. As he said, ‘It’s a false choice to force our country to choose between the two.’ I look forward to working with him to keep electricity affordable for Missourian’s under the new paradigm of shared leadership between federal state, and local entities.”

The Thomas Hill Energy Center employees around 230 people.